A WALL SYSTEM

Abstract: A wall system comprises a plurality of elongate rectangular panels (10) each having spaced parallel longitudinal folds (11, 12) and transverse slots (16, 17) in each portion between a fold (11, 12) and an adjacent longitudinal edge of the panel (10). The system also comprises a plurality of connectors (19) each formed from a blank of board material which is substantially of "H" configuration having outwardly extending corner tabs. Each blank is folded transversely to provide two connected bifurcated sheets of "U" configuration, there being spaced parallel projections (31, 32) connected by a bridging portion (33) and the corner tabs being folded onto the corresponding projections (31, 32). A pair of folded panels (10) are connected one to another to form a wall by inserting the projections (31, 32) through pairs of slots (16, 17) of adjacent panels (10). The corner tabs are released and restrain withdrawal of the connectors (19) from the adjacent panels (10).

Description: A Wall System This invention relates to a wall system particularly, but not exclusively, for location on an exhibition stand. Generally, wall systems for exhibition stands comprise a plurality of elongate rectangular sheets of board material each of which is folded at two spaced parallel longitudinal folds to form a pair of side panels extending rearwardly from a front panel. The sheets are erected so that their longitudinal axes extend vertically and adjacent side panels abut one another. The adjacent side panels are secured one to another by securing means. There are numerous types of securing means available but, generally, they are unsatisfactory because they do not safeguard against connected panels becoming disconnected. According to the present invention there is provided a wall system comprising a plurality of panels each having a plurality of slots and securing means for securing together adjacent panels when slots of the panels are in register one with another, the securing means comprising a head member, a member projecting from the head member and a tab folded on the projecting member, the arrangement being such that the projecting member is insertable in a direction through corresponding slots in register and the folded tab is released after passing through the slots and restrains movement of the securing means in a direction reverse to the said direction. Following is a description, by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, of one method of carrying the invention into effect. In the drawings:- Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming into a connector of an embodiment of a wall system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is a diagrammatic representation indicating how the blank shown in Figure 1 is folded to form the connector. Figure 3 is a plan view of the connector formed from the blank shown in Figures 1 and 2, Figure 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of two wall components being connected one to another by the connector. Figure 5 is an elevation of a panel of one of the two wall components shown in Figure 4 when connected by the connector to the other wall component. Figure 6 is an elevation of a panel of the other of the two wall components shown in Figure 4 when connected by the connector to the first wall component. Figure 7 is a plan view of an embodiment of an additional component of the embodiment of a wall system shown in Figures 1 to 6 , Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 6 showing assembly of the additional component shown in Figure 7 in the system. Figure 9 is a rear elevation of an end cap component in which wall panels thereof are connected one to another in side by side relation by a connector as shown in Figures 1 to 6 combined with an additional component as shown in Figures 7 and 8, Figure 10 is a plan view of a blank for forming into another embodiment of an additional component of a wall system in accordance with the present invention. Figure 11 is a diagrammatic representation indicating how the blank shown in Figure 10 is assembled in the system, and Figures 12 and 13 are plan views of respective blanks for forming into alternative additional components. Referring now to Figures 1 to 6 of the drawings, there is shown an embodiment of a wall system comprising a plurality of elongate rectangular wall components 10 of board material each having spaced parallel longitudinal folds 11,12 so that, when folded, the component 10 is provided with a front panel 13, and two spaced parallel side panels 1 , 15 extending rearwardly from the front panel 13, The side panels 14, 15 extending rearwardly from the front panel 13. The side panels 14, 15 are each provided with two spaced parallel rows of transversely extending slots 16, 17, an outer row of the slots 17 being arranged in three sets of two pairs with an inner row of the slots 16 but including an extra slot 18 below each set. The system also includes a plurality of connectors 19 each formed from a blank 20 of board material, the blank being substantially in the configuration of the letter "H" and having tabs 21, 22, 23 and 24 extending outwardly from corresponding upper and lower parallel portions of the "H" configuration. The blank is provided with a pair of centrally located spaced parallel transverse creases 25, 26 and the tabs 21 to 24 are each provided with a corresponding base crease 27, 28, 29 and 30 extending parallel to the parallel portions of the "H" configuration. The blank 20 is folded as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2 of the drawings to provide a connector 19, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, comprising a "ϋ" shape configuration of double thickness board material in the form of a pair of spaced parallel projections 31 , 32 connected by a bridging portion 33, the projections having upper and lower tabs 21, 22, 23 and 24. It will be appreciated that the double folded "ϋ" shape configuration remains stable because the arrangement of the pair of spaced parallel transverse creases 25, 26 provides a "dead" fold. However, the arrangement of the single creases 27, 28 ,29 and 30 whereby the tabs 21 to 24 are folded inwardly of the "H" configuration, are not "dead" folds and the tabs 21 to 24 therefore have a tendency to spring out of a plane parallel to the projections 31 ,32. The transverse dimensions of the projections 31 , 32 correspond with the longitudinal dimensions of each of the slots 16, 17 and the distance between the projections 31 , 32 corresponds to the spacing of each pair of slots 16, 17. The projections 31, 32 of each connector 19 therefore are receivable in each pair of slots 16, 17 and each projection 31, 32 is receivable in a corresponding one of the slots 18. A wall is formed by erecting a plurality of folded wall components 10 so that each component 10 is upstanding with its longitudinal axis extending vertically. Each component 10 is connected to an adjacent component 10 by a plurality of connectors 19, having first arranged that the side panels 14, 15 of adjacent components 10 abut one another and the slots 16, 16; 17, 17 and 18,18 of the abutting panels are in register one with another. The connectors 19 then are positioned so that the projections 31, 32 are received in corresponding pairs of slots 16, 17 the corresponding tabs 21 to 24 having been pressed firmly onto the "ϋ" configuration of the double thickness board material. When each of the connectors 19 is pushed fully inwardly against a corresponding side panel 14, 15, the tabs 21 to 24 will have passed through the corresponding slots 16, 17 in the combined side panels 14, 15 of the adjacent components 10 and will be unrestrained. In consequence, the tabs 21 to 24 spring away from the plane parallel to the corresponding projection 31 , 32 and out of alignment with the slots 16, 17 and thereby restrain movement of the connectors 19 in a reverse direction, and, in consequence, reducing any tendency for the connectors 19 to become disconnected from the wall components 10. Referring now to Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings there is shown an additional component 34 formed of board material and of substantially "T" configuration, the central portion of the configuration comprising a tongue 35. The arrangement is such that a plurality of components 34 are provided, each for cooperating with a corresponding connector 19 whereby the tongue 35 of the component 34 is inserted between the projections 31 , 32 and the bridging portion 33 of the connector 19 and an adjacent wall panel 14, 15, the plane of the component 34 being parallel to the plane of the wall panel 14, 15. The presence of an additional component 34 located between a connector 19 and a corresponding wall panel 1 , 15 reduces relative movement of the connector 19 and the adjacent wall panels 14, 15 and reduces the possibility of the adjacent wall panels 14, 15 becoming disconnected. Referring now to Figure 9 of the drawings there is shown a rear elevation of an end cap component 36 in which a panel is folded at four creases 37, 38, 39 and 40 to provide an enclosure, one side of which is formed by two panels 41 , 42 located in side by side relation one to another each being provided with slots 16, 17 and 18 as with panels 14,15. The panels 41 , 42 are connected one to another by means of a connector 43 wherein the projections of the connector 43 are inserted in adjacent slots 18 of the panels 41, 42 and in adjacent slots 18 of the or each adjacent wall panel 14, and the connector is combined with the additional component 34. The spacing between the tabs of the connector 43 and the bridging portion thereof is sufficient to accommodate the thickness of the multiple panels. Referring now to Figures 10 and 11 of the drawings, there is shown a further additional component 44, referred to as a "rail", formed of board material and of rectangular configuration having a longitudinal dimension corresponding to a transverse dimension of a front panel 13, each end portion of the rail being provided with an outwardly extending tongue 45, 46 which is foldable at a corresponding base fold 47, 48. The rail is located between side panels 14, 15 of each wall component 10 by folding the tongues 45, 46 in the same direction at the folds 47, 48 and inserting the tongues 45, 46 downwardly between the projections 31 , 32 and the bridging portion 33 of corresponding connectors 19 and adjacent the panels 14, 15 of the wall component 10. The rail 44 need not, however, be of rectangular configuration. In Figures 12 and 13 there are shown plan views of blanks for forming into rails 49, 50, each being of trapezium configuration so that, when connected with an erect wall component 10, an inner surface of each of the side panels 14, 15 forms with an inner surface of the front panel 13 either an acute angle or an obtuse angle. The arrangement is such that, when similarly erected adjacent wall components 10 are connected one to another the wall so formed is curved.

Claims: Claims 1. A wall system comprising a plurality of panels (10) each having a plurality of slots (16,17,18) and securing means (19) for securing together adjacent panels (10) when slots (16,17,18) of the panels (10) are in register one with another characterised in that the securing means (19) comprises a head member (33), a member (31,32) projecting from the head member (33) and a tab (21,22,23,24) folded on the projecting member (31,32), the projecting member (31,32) being insertable in a direction through corresponding slots (16,17,18) in register and the folded tab (21,22,23,24) being released after passing through the slots (16,17,18) so that movement of the securing means (19) in a direction reverse to the said direction is restrained. 2. A system as claimed in Claim 1 characterised in that the securing means (19) comprises a plurality of projecting members (31 ,32) and the head member (33) comprises a bridging portion (33) connecting the projecting members (31 ,32) in spaced relation one to another and wherein there is provided an additional component (34,44) having a tongue portion (35,45,46) for insertion between the projecting members (31,32), the bridging portion (33) and an adjacent panel (10) for restraining relative movement of the securing means (19) and the adjacent panel (10). 3. A system as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the additional component (34) is a lamina of "T" configuration. 4. A system as claimed in Claim 2 characterised in that the additional component ( 44 ) is elongate and is provided at each end portion thereof with a said tongue portion (45,46). 5. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the securing means (19) is formed by folding transversely a lamina (20) of substantially "H" configuration. 6. A system as claimed Claims 5 characterised in that the lamina (20) is provided with two spaced parallel transverse folds (25,26). 7. A system as claimed in Claim 5 or Claim 6 characterised in that four tabs (21,22,23,24) are provided each at a corresponding upper and lower portion of the parallel portions of the "H" configuration and each being folded in relation thereto on a corresponding fold (27,28,29,30) extending parallel to the said parallel portions. 8. A system as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the tabs (21,22,23,24) extend in a direction outwardly from the said parallel portions. 9. A system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims characterised in that the panels (10), the securing means (19) and the additional component (34,44) are formed of board material.

Inventors: DAMER STUART LEE, HOWEN COLIN WILLIAM, DAMER, STUART, LEE, HOWEN, COLIN, WILLIAM
Applicants: CARDBOARD INNOVATIONS LTD, DAMER STUART LEE, HOWEN COLIN WILLIAM, CARDBOARD INNOVATIONS LIMITED, DAMER, STUART, LEE, HOWEN, COLIN, WILLIAM
Application year: 1994
Main classification: E04H1
IPC codes: E04H1